Have Muslims Become Caricatures?
Another point of view

#54 {Symbol versus substance. Tragic that Muslims are so exercised by the insult to Islam and the Prophet, }

i think you are mistaken, it was meant as an insult to muslims (specifically, danish muslims) ..its a confused reaction to recent violence in amsterdam, madrid and london mixed with fear of the new immigrants.

#56, Harry,
Didn`t you know? According to several Pakis, Jinnah was European - thus his hold over the fair people of Pakiland. :) The Bengalis found out that 60% is not larger than 40% of the same total.

#53 by Salim_Chauhan

[But then Europeans are quite skilled at manipulating freedoms to suit the occasion. One man one vote, as long as whites outnumber the darkies. :)]

Yaar Salim, that`s how our man Jinnah thought as well. In an address at the Aligarh Muslim University on March 6, 1940, this is what he said:

``We cannot accept a system of government in which the non-Muslims merely by numerical majority would rule and dominate us”.

Followers of Islam are lunatic, because they follow lunar calandar.

( Seriously it is a joke.)

Dear Friends

The whole controversy is tragic, and everybody should reflect upon why this is happening, what the causes are - rather than respond mechanically on the basis of their own prior conditioning. There is free speech, but there is also the notion of the SACRED. There is poverty and backwardness, and there is also deliberate denigration. There is democracy, but there is also imperialism and racism.

Anyway, such situations can be opportunities for reflection and self-improvement, even as larger forces and events take their own course, against which individuals are powerless. We can try to be a force of civility, peacefulness, reason, compassion, reconciliation and mutual understanding within our own spheres.

I am currently translating the writings of the Bengali writer Subimal Misra (1943-). Misra is regarded as the foremost anti-establishment and experimental writer in the Bengali language, and has been writing for almost 40 years now. I am reminded of 2 stories by Misra, both written in the late-1960s.

“Haran majhir bidhoba bou-er moda ba shonar gandhimurti” (Haran Majhi’s widowed wife’s corpse or the Gandhi statue of gold) picks on the Indian national icon Gandhi (or rather the statue of the dead Gandhi). There is poverty, inhuman exploitation, official callousness and widespread social apathy - and yet ritual deification of Gandhi continues. People venerate the icon - but not what he stood for. In the story, the ugly reality forces itself into everybody`s consciousness whether they like it or not. The decomposing corpse of a poor peasant`s wife who killed herself to escape social torture materialises everywhere like a vengeful, menacing ghost. In the end, the people realise that ``unless Haran Majhi’s wife’s corpse was removed they wouldn’t be able to reach the Gandhi statue``. This story also uses the mythological story of Krishna`s birth, which symbolises the victory of good over evil. Indians ritually celebrate Janmashtami (birth of Krishna) every year, but remain oblivious to the evil all around them. Hence the destruction of this system is inevitable - e.g. by entities like Bin Laden.

“Parkstreet-er traffic post-ey holud rong” (Amber light at Park Street crossing) is about a beggar dying on the street. The people of the city are blind to this, because they are obsessed with the dishonour to the nation committed by a crow which shat on the national flag. A mad man tries his level best to communicate to the people around that a beggar is dying - but no one hears him. Without paying any heed to his words they instead discuss how that scheming crow could be found, why’s it not been found yet, the dishonour to the national flag etc.

Symbol versus substance. Tragic that Muslims are so exercised by the insult to Islam and the Prophet, and so unconcerned about the deprived, distorted lives of millions of Muslims. Tragic also that people are exercised about restrictions on free speech, while remaining unconcerned about the ignorance and bigotry in their own midst.

Thank you!

#50, HP {``The Danish daily turned down the cartoons of Christ three years ago, on the
grounds that they could be offensive to readers and were not funny.``}

HP,
If true, then what we have here is a case of not freedom of speech, but freedom of hypocrisy - the latter is par for European Civilization. It reminds me of Gandhiji`s response when asked what he thought of Western Civilization. That most wonderful of modern Hindus responded: ``That would be a great idea.`` :)


#51, Kaal Bhai, {````We are All Danes Now.`` Anti-Dane fanaticism (of a few) will hurt (all) Muslims. Just as 9/11 did. Unfair, but that`s how things are, in Muslim countries and in non Muslim countries. ..Freedom of speech is a fundamental value to Danes. ... Muslims, Hindus, and all those who live in Denmark (and similar countries) must learn to abide by that/those society`s basic operational rules. Or pay the price.``}

Kaal Bhai,
Thank you for your compromise approach - it is a sound one and a good golden rule to live by. Unfortunately, as noted in HP`s post #50, we may not have a clear-cut issue of Dane freedom of speech. It`s rather curious how the same rules don`t apply in the mockery of Jesus Christ as they apply to insulting The Holy Prophet (PBUH). But then Europeans are quite skilled at manipulating freedoms to suit the occasion. One man one vote, as long as whites outnumber the darkies. :)

If Muslims should not impose their mores on European countries, then European countries should not be concerned about what goes on in the rest of the world - but then International Human Rights won`t mean much - but then, judging from the massacres in Srbrenica, Bosnia, concern for human rights did not embolden that other country notorious for its commitment to freedoms - the Netherlands. Its soldiers, serving under the UN, basically gave the green light, in order to ostensibly save their own skins, to the Serbs to massacre tens of thousands of Muslim men and boys. I see another example of ``Heads I win, tails you lose.``

Yes, hypocricy is mutual and all of it should be countered. For now, let it be one by one. Italy may rally to the support of the Danes, good for them both. Price or no price, I am off Danish products. It is a very small cost for me.....I can hardly differentiate between the various ``qualities`` of butter and cheese (and salami, sausages etc.).

Salim Bro

It takes an intelligent man to keep his cool. There are already murmurs of ``We are All Danes Now.``

Anti-Dane fanaticism (of a few) will hurt (all) Muslims. Just as 9/11 did. Unfair, but that`s how things are, in Muslim countries and in non Muslim countries.

The following approach may help construct a compromise.

Freedom of speech is a fundamental value to Danes. In their culture, disagreements on the interpretations of fundamental values are common. However, all disputes are settled through a civil process. Muslims, Hindus, and all those who live in Denmark (and similar countries) must learn to abide by that/those society`s basic operational rules. Or pay the price.

Respect to Prophet Mohammad is a fundamental value in many Muslim countries. Anybody who publicly sets himself or herself up against the personage of Prophet Mohammad, cannot (unless I am wrong) look forward to a long, happy, and carefree life. This applies to non Muslims and to Muslims. A non Muslim who finds that situation completely unacceptable ought not to expect much public support from his friends and neighbors, if the latter live in Muslim countries.

Both (kinds of) societies, must have the right to enforce their basic rules of living. And, their rules for changing their rules of living. Non Muslims/non Muslim nations and Muslims/Muslim nations do, and should, regularly criticise each other. Beyond that one simply crosses the line of acceptability.

(IMO, mutual charges of hypocrisy arise from a failure to understand other society`s basic operational rules - primarily expecting others to live by one`s own set of moral values. Also, none of the above holds when people and nations interact as merely political units, just as not all wars are jihads or crusades.)

I prefer to not post Newspaper stories but this is an important story which sheds some light on the Jyllands-Posten double standards.


Danish paper rejected Jesus cartoons

Gwladys Fouché and agencies, Monday February 6, 2006

The Guardian

Jyllands-Posten, the Danish newspaper that first published the cartoons of the
prophet Muhammad that have caused a storm of protest throughout the Islamic
world, refused to run drawings lampooning Jesus Christ, it has emerged today.

The Danish daily turned down the cartoons of Christ three years ago, on the
grounds that they could be offensive to readers and were not funny.

In April 2003, Danish illustrator Christoffer Zieler submitted a series of
unsolicited cartoons dealing with the resurrection of Christ to
Jyllands-Posten.

Zieler received an email back from the paper`s Sunday editor, Jens Kaiser,
which said: ``I don`t think Jyllands-Posten`s readers will enjoy the drawings.
As a matter of fact, I think that they will provoke an outcry. Therefore, I
will not use them.``

The illustrator told the Norwegian daily Dagbladet, which saw the email: ``I see
the cartoons as an innocent joke, of the type that my Christian grandfather
would enjoy.``

``I showed them to a few pastors and they thought they were funny.``

He said that he felt Jyllands-Posten rated the feelings of its Christian
readers higher than that of its Muslim readers.

But the Jyllands-Posten editor in question, Mr Kaiser, told MediaGuardian.co.uk
that the case was ``ridiculous to bring forward now. It has nothing to do with
the Muhammad cartoons.

``In the Muhammad drawings case, we asked the illustrators to do it. I did not
ask for these cartoons. That`s the difference,`` he said.

``The illustrator thought his cartoons were funny. I did not think so. It would
offend some readers, not much but some.``

The decision smacks of ``double-standards``, said Ahmed Akkari, spokesman for the
Danish-based European Committee for Prophet Honouring, the umbrella group that
represents 27 Muslim organisations that are campaigning for a full apology from
Jyllands-Posten.

``How can Jyllands-Posten distinguish the two cases? Surely they must
understand,`` Mr Akkari added.

nasah #42 and #43,
Nasah,
You are speaking with much rational thought and sound advice. Let`s be proportional in our anger and our response. Heck, Muslims don`t even know how to demonstrate. Raising first, shouting loudly, burning flags, opening wide mouths showing missing teeth and even more horrible present teeth is not the way to register complaint and gain support. Certainly, these things are all better than killing, dying, and blowing things up - but that is not a fair choice.
Once again, silent protests, kind comments, vigils, and even some funny cartoons in retaliation woould go much further.

GT,
Boycotting products by individuals are of course quite effective. Just make sure that the boycott doesn`t backfire. Already some people in Italy are going out of their way to drink Danish beer. Muslim anger against Denmark could be used as a powerful advertisement for Danes. Again, whatever is done, please make sure that enough thought is given to the approach - something that Muslims are unfortunately very poor at considering. Good Luck. I will not buy any Danish, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Jordanian, Norwegian, and Swiss goods - unless they are much cheaper and better than the alternative. :)

Any kind of offensive statement about icons of any religion draws angry protests from followers of that religion.

But Muslim reaction to ANY slight to Muhammad is exceptionally virulent.

There is a reason why Muslim reaction is so rabid.

It is because, once criticism of this excellent individual is allowed, the floodgates will open, and people will feel free to start openly discussing and criticizing his MANY heinous actions.

And that would be disastrous for the Muslim society, because they would be fighting a losing battle, trying to justify his many wonderful actions.

So it is self-preservation for the Muslims. Hence the furore.

But as Europe has shown, that day is coming.

All the signs are there - oil losing importance slowly but steadily, the West waking up to the true picture of Islam, and defending it`s cultural heritage for intellectual openness etc, and people finally strating to discuss this incomparable man.




There`s hope yet.

46 by Salim

A boycott of Danish products by Turkey will be costly, given Turkey`s EU aspirations. Even though it would be costless for many other countries, no country should boycott Danish products (given WTO concerns). However, CONSUMERS can always boycott products. ``Freedom of speech`` could very well be countered by ``freedom of choice``. And one should also be ``free to mobilize support``. One could start by concentrating on diary products. These products are consumed by mostly middle class (and rich) people in the developing world. Many of these people would most likely own a computer with internet access. Mobilising support through the internet should be easy.

ahmadzai #34 {``Your two options are good, except that if we settle for the first one, the attacks would only increase and we cannot settle for the 2nd at all, because all the respected figures of Judaism and Christianity are much more to us in terms of their infallibility.
My suggetion is that barring the violent protests in Syria, Beirut and Palestine, the span and scale of protests are just adequate. In this regard, please see my post addressed to HP.
Btw, as regards your many comments, neden dushmanlarla isbirligi yapiyorsun?``}

Kardesh Ahmadzai effendi, Tesekkur ederim
Merhaba, nasilsiniz?

I prefer the first option of ignoring the cartoonists and letting them fade away after a series of boring, mediocre attempts at insulting the Holy Prophet (PBUH) a la Rushdie and many others. I offered the second option because we Muslims have got to stop borrowing holy cows from Jews and Christians. Don`t we have enough of our own? :) The famouos phrase ``If you can`t beat `em then join `em`` would apply here. Let`s test the threshold of their sensibilities to oxen being gored. I am against boycotss because they don`t accomplish what you really want and sometimes they backfire. If Iran ever becomes a nuclear power or a weapons manufacturer, you can blame it on the stupid sanctions imposed on them for so many years.

As for the ``sleeping with the enemy,`` question, ``sukun istiyorum`` :)
Iyi geceler. allah rahatlýk versin. Your knowledge of Turkish is much more than my own limited one.

Manto, Omar,

How effective (in economic terms) would a boycott of Danish goods be in Pakistan, Turkey? If you agree with the `boycott` idea, is it possible for you guys to mobilise people (possibly accross countries)? Can the issue be ``European hypocricy`` instead of the Prophet?

Some clerics are asking for an end to protests. That is good. But since the dice is cast, rightly or wrongly, the boycott of Danish goods should continue till the Danish govt. issues a clear apology. Boycott of Danish goods would not cost the consumers anything. Other European countries will simply move in to replace Danish products. (i) European hypocricy will be exposed; (ii) Moderates using non violent methods will gain credibility over bombastic fanatics. This is a pivotal moment, the opportunity should not be lost.

Like Mr. Momani and Mr. Khalidi normal Muslims must rise against the insanity of their fellow Muslims and tell them to STOP being irrational....

drawing pictures of the prophet is a Taboo ...for us Muslims....

....it`s a NOT a Taboo for the Christians not for the Hindus, not for the Jews not for the Zoroastrians, and not for the Buddhists -- because hello -- THEY ARE NOT MUSLIMS.......

for them Mohammed doesn`t ring the bell...the same way that it rings for us Muslims!

drawing a line on a paper and calling it Mohammed -- they can draw Jesus, Moses, Buddha and call the drawing Mohammed -- it is their stupidity -- or if they want they can draw the pictures of the Jesus, Moses Buddha and call them Attilla the Hun or Genghiz Khan -- or Pot Pol for that matter -- it is their choice...

they can call those scratches of ink on a piece of paper any goddam thing they want -- it does not bother either Jesus, or Moses, or Buddha one whit......that name calling does not diminish those icons one bit.....

-- why it should affect one of the greatest icons -- Mohammed -- and his one billion Mohammedans....so much.....?

those lines or ink scratches that could be called anything depending upon the psychological condition of the observer like the Rorschach test -- how can they diminish Mohammed when it does not even resemble Mohammed -- even an iota -- when nobody knows how Mohammed even looked like ....

any childish line drawn if called Mohammed will start a world war between the Muslims and the Non Muslims....is that what we Muslims are saying....?

in a way it is good -- a silver lining -- that the these senseless battles are raging the way they are raging -- because it is time that this oversensitive and hypersensitive community of ours -- needed some repeated desensitization in small doses -- to rid us from our own rational or irrational allergies....

....and if not us Muslims can take care of our own allergies -- the West WILL do it for us.....to save us and them from our own itching urticarias and our own life threatening epiglottal edemas...

thus .... these cartoons may prove to be life saving antihistamines in the long run for the perpetually anaphylactic UMMAH....